Well-dbillibtg apparatus



' 1,628 282 A May 10, I w SHELDON I,

WELL DRILLING APPARATUS- Filed May 29. 1923 2 Sheets- -Sheet 1 w a l KlNENTOR ATTORNEY 1,628,282 w. SHELDON WELL DRILLING AFPARATUS May 10,1927.

Filed May 29, 192;:

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 10, 1927.

UNITED STATES WALDO SHELDON, 01F GREENWICH, CONNECTICUT.

WELL-DRILLIN'G APPARATUS.

Application filed May 29,

This invention relates particularly to deep oil well drilling apparatusof the type in which the drive is efiected by a so-called rotary table.

The present invention is in the nature of an improvement on theinvention disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial #592,- 265,filed October 4th, 1922, in that the pres sure on the rotating drill iscontrolled by a power device supported in relatively fixed relation atone side of the rotary table and connected with the drill stem by apower transmitting lever or arm extending over the table to a rotaryengagement with the drill stem at the center of the table.

Special objects of the invention are to provide a simple, practical andeasily handled chuck construction for transmitting the pressure to thedrill stem and one WhlCll can be used interchangeably either with anangular form of drive rod or with the usual cylindrical form of drillstem.

Other objects and the various novel features oi. the invention by whichthe desired results are attained will. appear as the spec1-fication'proceeds.

In the drawing accompanying and tor1ning part of this specification Ihave illustrated but one simple practical embodiment of my invention,but wish it understood that the structure may be modified in variousrespects without departure from the broad spirit and scope of theinvention, as W111 be apparent from the scope of the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a side view of the apparatus as in use.

Figure 2 is a broken plan view of the lever connection between the powerdevice and drill stem.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the chuck as in usein connection with an angular section of the drill stem.

Figure 4 is a, similar view illustrating the method of using the chuckwith a circular section of the drill stem.

Figure 5 is atop plan view of the chuck as it appears in use onthecircular drill stem. 1

Figures 6 and 7 are cross sectional views of the chuck as onsubstantially the planes of lines 6-6 and 7-7 of Figures 3 and 4respectively.

Figure 8 is a broken detail view illustrat- 1923. Serial No. 642,182.

ing a form of stuffing box used with the cylindrical drill stem. 1 y

In Figure 1 I have illustrated parts of a rotary drilling outfit,including the rotary table 10 driven by a pinion 11 and provided at itscenter with a drive bushing 12 of square or other angular cross sectionto slidingly receive the angular drive rod 13 of the drill.

The feed of the drill is effected and the desired pressure is applied tothe bit by means of thepower device located ofli to one side of thetable and shown in the form of a hydraulic cylinder 14:, containing apiston provided with a projecting piston rod 15.

In the present illustration the power cylinder is disposed verticallyand the pressure applying connection includes a substantially straightlever or arm 16 pivoted intermediate its ends on trunnions 17, saidlever having a sliding connection at its outer end with the piston rodand having a sliding and rotatable connection at its inner end with adrill chuck of special construction. As here disclosed, the connectionwith the piston rod is made by providing the outer end oi the lever withforks 18 slidingly receiving the blocks 19 pivoted at 20 on the pistonrod.

The chuck consists in the present disclosure of a sleeve-like structure21 having a bore therethrough of angular outline to fit the drive rod orso-called grief stem of the drill and enlarged at the lower end of thechuck to provide an angular seat 22 for the reception of the upper endof a drive quill 23 (Figure 4) which is of angular outline to slidinglyfit in a drive bushing in the table and is of large enough internaldiameter to pass a cylindrical section 24 of the drill stem.

The rotatable engagement between the lever and chuck is shown asprovided by means of a sleeve or collar 25 rotatably engaged about thechuck body between the outstanding thrust shoulders or flanges 26, 27and carrying at opposite sides, pivoted blocks 28 slidingly fitting inforked portions or guides 29 at the end of the lever. Suitable thrustbearings such as those indicated at 30 are usually provided between theends of the thrust collar and the adjoining thrust shoulders. In theparticular form of con struction shown the upper flange is made as sothat wear may be compensated for by.

the ren'ioval of these shims as the load carrying parts wear down.

The chuck is provided with clan'ipinp; ineans shown in the term of a setof angularly related clamp blocks or aws $33 adjustably guided in seats34- at the upper end oi? the chuck and actuated by bolts or screws 35and a second set of clamp iaws 36 in guides 37 at the lower end of thechuck body actir ated by bolts 38.

l i hen operating with a rrriel stem or angular drill rod a fiilitlttldCdriving engagement is effected between the rotary table and drill red bythe sliding tit oi the :u. 'ula 1' rod within the correspondinglyangular bushing in the table. Under such circumstances'the chuck secureddirectly upon the angular drive rod, ordinarily both upper and lowersets of clamps being enuiiloyed the ends of the jaws beiuo; seri ated orotl'ierwise suitably shaped to takt. illll] hold upon the rod. i i hendrilling with cylindrical roth however, the driving engagement betweenthe rotary table and so-culled round rod is effected by using the hollowdrive quill which has sliding lit in the drive bushing of the table andby setting up the clamps at the upper end of the chuck so as to engagethe drill rod, which as shown in Figure 9 then passes down through boththe chuck and the hollow drive quill.

Special concave faced jaws may be substituted in the upper end oi thechuck when the round rod is to be thus gripped, as in dicated at 39, andthese jaws may he some What longer than the ones ordinarily employed foruse on the angular drive rod so as to reach in the greater distance tothe smaller rod.

l l hen using the hollow drive quill the same is preferably(iletacliably held in its seat in the lower end of the chuck by settingthe jaws at this end of the chuck inward far enough to enter seats all)provided therefor in the sides of the quill. This forms an interlockbetween the chuck and quilh making the two for the time being practically integral so that both lifting and low ering force may be appliedto the chuck without disconnecting the parts.

ll ith the arrangement ol' the pressure cyl inder as shown the feed ofthe drill and the driving; force may be accurately groverncd and thepower may also be applied to withdraw the rod or take off the driving;pressure. The use of the straight lever connection is of advantage asproviding; simplicity and great structural strength and as enabling acompact outfit with the parts all accessible and the heavy powermechanism supported low, usually on the derrick floor. 'llhe clamps areaccessible and easily that it may be rradi adjusted so that alter a teedstroke ol' the power device they can be readily relezn-ied and the chuckhe quickly secured in position for a 'lre-h teed stroke The lcrer ispreteralily mounted in bearings which can he quickly opened up, such asindicated, so

reniored it that l|econies l. 'ihle dur. :p; the changes which ordinalhare to be clliicled during drillinn' operations.

The lllli tli'lillllt ol' th a :u'laplahility ol' the chuck to both theannular and the round drill stein will be appreciated when it isrraliI/wd that this enables the drill stem to he quickly changed 'i'roni one town to the other and enables the valves and siutline' boxesand the like to he used in the regrulai' way. in l o ure 1: a etuiiinpghim: is iudiculiul in use at i l il hen the Chai are made in the drilstem the chuck einiply disconnected and the change can thus he cllectcdwithout disconni-rcting or disarranniuo; other portions ot the apparatusand. it is particularly iniportaut to note that with this invention thelicayy power applying; portion oi the uppaiutus remains in position oll'lo the side of the rotary tabltn where it is out oi? the way of theoperations and changes beinir etl'ected at the table.

To provide a more positive interlock hetweonthe chuck and angular drillstrut the latter may be constriurtod as iinlicated in Figures 1. and 3,with grooves or cuts ll! in the th t sides of the same, preil'einblyspz' cod so that both upper and lower clamp jaws can enter such grooves.in order that there drive shoulder shall not intrrl'ere with the 1 s ureoi? the angular stein throu rh the drive bushing: in the rotary tahlethe opposite ends of the passage th 1 ougijh the liui-rliiunmay bebeyeler'l oll i as indicated at lil.

l i i'lh the transit sly shouldered orin o I' griet stein it is y i: doto use a specially dew nod chuck haying wide jaws to [it in thegrrooi'es in the sides: or! the stem and which jaws can besiiuulluneoin-ily operated with quick ()Pllllllfl' and closingnuu'ciueuls. The uctuatiiugg tluid tor the power cylinder isiiiontrolhu'l lily suitable yal 'e uierluuiit i which is preteriiihly sodes' meal that litlil''iisure is applied at one end ol the t"i'lllitlt"i' the pressure will be automatically released at acorrespondhug rule at the opposite end ol the cylinder.

l l liat l claim is:

l. in deep oil well drilliugr apparatus. the conibiinitiou with u rotaiytable huriusi a chuck passage at l :oe center toe the drill steini of apower device supportetl in fixed relation at one side oi the rotarytable and a drill controlling and pressure applying; lever extending);from said power device over the table and ha vino; provision for arotary connection with the drill stein.

in deep oil well drillii'ie; apparatus. the

till

till

lllltl lllll combination with a rotary table having a chuck passage atthe center for the drill stem, of a power device supported in fixedrelation at one side ot the rotary table, a drill stem holding chuck anda pressure applying and drill controlling lever extending from the powerdevice over the table and having a rotatable pressure applyingengagement with the drill stem chuck.

3. The structure of claim 2 in which the chuck is equipped withindependently ope able gripping means at its opposite ends for holdingengagement with cylindrical and angular stems respectively.

4. A chuck for oil well drilling opeations comprising a sleeve providedat opposite ends with independently operable drill stem engaging clampsand with. thrust shoulders and having a thrust transmitting collar forengagement therewith.

5. In oil well drilling apparatus, a rotary table having a check passagefor the drill. stem, a lever :tulcrumed at one side of the table, adrill. stein chuck roi'a-tably engaged with said lever and a powerdevice supported in fixed relation at one side oi? the rotary table andhaving a pressure applying connection with said lever.

6. A structure as in claim 5 in which the lever is substantiallystraight with the fulcrum, drill stem chuck and power device connectionsprovided at dillerent points in the length of the same.

7. In oil well drilling apparatus, a chuck having an angular passagetherethrough of a size to receive the angular drive stem of a drill andenlarged at its lower end to receive a hollow drive quill of largerexternal diameter than such angular drill. stem, said chuck having clampmeans at l he lower end thereof for securing said quill and. havingclamp means at the upper end of the same for holding engagement with adrill stem oi a size to extend through the hollow drive quill.

8. In well drilling apparatus, an angular drill stem having transverselyextending ex ternal shoulders, a chuck having parts to engage saidshoulders on the angular stem and a rotary table having an angular chuckpassage therethrough for said angular drill stem and beveled at itsopposite ends to enable the shouldered portions of the drill stem toslide "freely through such passage.

9. A hollow drill rod of externally angular outline provided with seatsin the angular sides of the same.

10. In well drilling apparatus, a rotary table having an angular chuckpassage, a

tubular element of angular cross section slidingly engaged in said chuckpassage and provided with seats in the angularly related sides of thesame and a chuck engaged about said tubular element and provided withjaws for entering said seats.

11. In deep oil well drilling apparatus, the combination with a rotarytable having a chuck passage at the center for the drill stem, oi apower cylinder supported in fixed relation at one side of the rotarytable and a drill controlling pressure applying lever extending fromsaid power cylinder across the table and having provision for a rotaryconnection with the drill stem.

12. In well drilling apparatus, a chuck sleeve having a passagetherethrough to re ceive the drive stem of the drill, said chuck sleevehaving independently operable clamp means at hoih the upper and lowerends of the same for holding engagement with a drill stem or chucksleeve of dili'erent diaineter, external thrust shoulders on said chucksleeve intermediate the upper and lower clamp means and a thrusttransmit ting collar in relatively rotatable engagement with said thrustshoulders and having means for enabling the application thereto otliiting or lowering forces.

13. ln well drilling apparatus, a drill stem having longitudinalshoulders for rotary drive and transverse shoulders tor vertical drive,chuck means having vertical shoulders for sliding engagement with thelongitudinal drive shoulders of the drill stem and adjustable horizontalshoulders for engageinent with the transverse shoulders of the drillstem, a rotary table having a central passage for the drill stem and adetachable mounting for said chuck means.

14. A chuck for oil well drilling operations comprising a sleeveprovided with ad justable clamping means for gripping a drill stemextending through the sleeve, said sleeve having external thrustshoulders, a thrust transmitting collar surrounding said sleeve havingmeans for enabling engagement of power connections therewith andfriction reducing bearings between the collar and said thrust shoulders.

15. A chuck for oil well drilling opera tions comprising a sleeveprovided with adjustable clamping means for gripping a drill stemextending through the sleeve, said sleeve having external thrustshoulders, a thrust transmitting collar surrounding said sleeve havingmeans for enabling engagement of power connections therewith andfriction reducing hearings between the collar and said thrust shoulders,the chuck sleeve having an adjustably fixed removable head enablingendwise removability of the thrust transmitting collar therefrom.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of May,1923.

WVALDO SHELDON.

